The average timeframe for a ‘standard’ build is between 6 months to 12 months. The time required to build or renovate a designed home from scratch, however, can take up to twice as long. So, how long can you expect the process to take?
To answer this question, you’ll need to understand the factors that can influence and push out the build time frame. The complexity of the home design, building material supplies, quality of the construction documentation, presence of a building contract, and weather conditions can influence how long the construction process takes.
The construction process is carried out in several stages. Each stage of the process has an estimated timeframe for completion depending on the parties involved.
Architects work with clients to create and refine the design of the home based on their vision and what they want in a home. This is done during the concept design and design development phases where the home design evolves from preliminary sketches to a detailed plan of the layout and materials used.
The design is then submitted for the necessary building approvals with the local council. After approval is obtained, architects prepare the construction documentation to provide technical information for builders.
To select the builders and contractors that will work on the build, architects review bids from applying providers during the tender stage to find the best option. These stages usually can take between 3 to 6 months.
The plot of land will be cleared of vegetation and excavated for the home’s foundation to be set. The preparation stage can take between 1 to 2 months to complete, depending on the land’s soil quality and orientation.
Foundation stage (1 to 2 weeks) – The site is dug out and laid with the foundation and footings of the home.
Framing stage (2 to 3 months) – The base structure of the home is built on top of the foundation, including the building of walls, roof trusses, and frames for windows and doors.
Lockup stage (2 to 3 months) – The external facing parts of the house (walls, windows, roof doors) will be completed, allowing it to be locked up securely.
Fixing stage (1 to 2 months) – Work will continue in the interior of the home, with fixtures such as cabinetry, bathroom fixtures, and internal doors installed during this stage.
Completion stage (1 to 2 months) – This final stage of construction covers the final touches needed to get the home ready for handover. This involves setting up and testing utilities, as well as the implementation of decorative elements like tiling work and painting.
At each stage, the architect will conduct ongoing checks to ensure that the work is completed to design and free of defects before the client makes any progress payments. After the completion stage, the house is given a final inspection for quality and safety. If everything is in order, the home will be handed over to the new owners.
The general timeline above applies to most standard home builds. However, the huge number of factors in the building process means that the actual timeline for a designed home project can change drastically. Understanding these factors and how they affect the building timeline can help you get a clearer idea of how long your dream house will take to build.
Pre-designed homes offered by builders significantly shorten the overall build time as the design has already been refined beforehand. Custom-built homes designed by an architect, however, are created from scratch and can take twice as long to build.
The extended timeline for a designed home is not only due to a longer design development stage but also because of the increased complexity of a custom design. Greater customisation equals more decisions to be made, which will inevitably take more time.
Residential construction is not always as straightforward as it seems. The architect collaborates with builders and contractors to plan as far ahead as possible for the construction work, but there will always be factors that remain outside of their control. Common examples of complications include sudden shortages in building material supply and periods of bad weather that slow down the building process.
A skilled architect will ensure the building contract includes a clear time provision and will proactively verify material availability in advance to lower the risk of delays.
Sometimes, clients change their minds about different elements during later stages, even during the construction stage. If possible, the architect will try to accommodate these design changes, albeit it may blow out timeframes.
Last-minute changes to the design of the home are much more complicated to carry out as other reliant parts of the building structure may be affected, requiring time and effort by the architect to redesign the impacted areas. This is why it’s crucial to address all design considerations early in the process, rather than leaving them until the last minute.
Getting approval from the local council authority can take time (and even more time for complicated designs). The council looks at planning regulations covering heritage, neighbouring spaces, and hydraulics during the approval process. It is vital to have the right team to avoid issues with approval that can result in lengthy delays.
Custom home designs require careful project management and skilled builders to carry out the project with as few mistakes or setbacks as possible. Even small errors in the building process can incur hefty costs, which is why it’s so important to work with an architect who has the right process and procedures in place. An architect will to know how to detail the documentation and how to direct the construction stage, lowering the risk of costly construction mistakes.
January 24, 2025
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